Case filling machine



July 10, 1951 c.- H. NEER CASE FILLING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Shee t 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1945 W1 f n e m m Mzmv July 10, 1951 c. H. NEER CAVSE FILLING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1945 diif owlflmg e Wi i'ne-ss I July 10, 1951 c. H. NEER 2,559,655

CASE FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1945 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 011 Hard H. Ne, Q/T

y 10, 9 1 c. H. NE R 2,559,555

CASE FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1945 1-1 Sheets-Sheet 4 Clifford H Na e/r i 'ness I 4 July 10, 1951 c. H. NEER 2,559,655

CASE FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1945 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 I'll gvwwwbcw /Hf Ford 1 71 Near July 10, 1951 c. H. NEER 2,559,655

CASE FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1945 11 Sheets-Sheet e July 10, 1951 c. H. NEER CASE FILLING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 24, 1945 c 11f ford H. NW

July 10, 1951 c. H. NEER CASE FILLING MACHINE 1'1 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Sept. 24, 1945 3mm. llfford H. Near July 10, 1951 c. H. NEER CASE FILLING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Sept. 24, 1945 July 10, 1951 c. H. NEER CASE FILLING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Sept. 24, 1945 July 10, 1951 c. H. NEER 2,559,555

CASE FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1945 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented July 10, 1951 CASE FILLING MACHINE Clifford H. Neer, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The Burt Machine Company, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application September 24, 1945, Serial No. 618,278

14 Claims.

1 This invention relates to a case filling machine, particularly to a machine for filling cases or cartons with cans that have previously been filled and labeled and in preparation for storage or shipment. Such machines are composed of a plurality of ways or tracks over which the cans roll, and they are taken from a single rolling line and arranged into a plurality of rolling lines, side by side and in tiers so that they may be placed in cases or cartons of varying sizes. One object of this invention is to arrange the cans from a single line into these multiple parallel lines.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid forceful movement of the cans on their .ways or moving mechanism that may crush or otherwise injure or deform the cans.

Another object of the invention is to make a machine that may be adapted to fill cases with several tiers of cans or one layer only, and the elements of which may be adapted to machines for easing any desired number of cans, or any desired number of cans in the rows of each layer.

i- Another object of the invention is to make a machine that will operate quietly, and with a minimum of supervision and from which cans that may become out of line may be quickly removed without interfering with the complete case charge and assembly.

Another object of the invention is to construct a machine that will assemble case charges quickly, and fill the cases quickly, so that an alert case handler can be fully occupied, or so that full cases could be dropped to a conveyor.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the timing of the different operations that there will be the least possible lost time or action between those operations, and so that if for any reason the supply of cans to the machine were delayed, the line dividing means would be stopped, and yet which will permit any full case loads in the magazine of the machine to be cased.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the cans in the magazine or section of the machine just prior to their passage to the casing section evenly, rather than filling one of the section ways and then another.

In the machine of the present invention cans roll on their sides in a single runway, which is inclined downwardly toward the machine and which may receive the cans fromany preceding operation machine such as a labeler, and roll to the lower end or boot of an initial one tract elevator-divider. This elevator-divider carries the cans around under its boot and elevates them substantially vertically to twoinclined runways which are superimposed at their upper ends which are connected to the elevator-divider and the elevator-divider discharges the cans, each alternate can going to one of the respective runways. These runways are also inclined downwardly and they diverge outwardly from one another so that at their delivery ends they are no longer superimposed but they ratherdeliver two rows of cans abreast of one another. These two rows of cans are then dropped into the boot of a second elevator-divider having again a single elevator but with two tracks or sets of guides, or sections, each section receiving cans from one of the preceding runways. This elevator then raises the two lines of cans, again substantially vertically and two groups or tiers of three superimposed runways each is attached to the delivery side of this elevator-conveyor, one tier for each section and the cans are discharged from the elevator-conveyor so that all the cans of each section go to one tier of runways and every third can goes to the same receiving runway of that tier. There are two groups or tiers of these superimposed ways, so that each group receives three rows of superimposed cans and the cans are arranged as they leave this elevator three deep and two abreast as they roll down the runways. From these runways the cans are delivered to acasing apparatus having a plunger at one side and a carton horn at the other. There is a shelf for the case or carton adjacent the horn and when a carton is placed upon the shelf and over the horn the plunger forces from the shelves a loadof cans divided in the illustration shown, three deep, two abreast and with four cans in each single horizontal layer. It will be apparent that with the addition of other elevators and dividers, substantially any arrangement of cans may be provided for of almost unlimited capacity.

The instant machine is also designed so that it may be operated to produce a single layer of cans for each carton in which case only half of the second elevator-divider would be utilized.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the infeed end of the machine, showing the first elevator-divider.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the can runway switch actuating shelf.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the infeed switch.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the second elevator-divider, being a continuation to the left of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the rear end of 3 the machine, being a continuation from the left of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the upper part of the elevator-divider of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a similar view of the lower portion of the elevator-divider shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a front view of the elevator-divider shown in Figure 4 substantially on lines 88 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a plan view, partly in section, substantially on line 99 of Figure 4.

Figure 10 is a partial sectional view substantially on line I-I ll of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a plan view, partly in section of the plunger and carton shelf, with the top off the shelf.

Figure 12 is a sectional view of the plunger guide on line 12-[2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a sectional view of the cam arm guide on line I3I 3 of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a partial plan view of part of the machine shown in Figure from the back.

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the plunger and drop shelf cams and their adjacent parts, substantially on line I5i 5 of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is an end elevation, partly in section of the carton shelf.

Figure 17 is a sectional view substantially on line I'II'I of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a similar view, to Figure 16, of the carton shelf near the beginning of its discharging operation.

Figure 19 is a partial sectional view of a modification of the drive for the second elevatordivider.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the several views.

The initial runways I have sides 2 and a bottom 3, and in the runway feeding the first elevator-divider 4, and somewhat removed from it, the bottom 3 has a hinged section 5, hinged at 6 and having an angle bracket 7 on each side to limit its vertical swing. Mercoid switch 8 which is open when no cans are on the runway, is operated. by the swinging shelf 5 through pivoted angular member 9 to close the switch when a line of cans accumulates in the runway l and up to the swinging shelf 5, The elevator-dividers of the machine do not operate until this switch is closed. The weight required to tilt the switch 8 may be varied by adjustment of the weight Ill on the bar 1 I attached to the member 9.

The runways I feed the cans into the boot I2 of the first elevator-divider 4 which consists of endless chains I3 having flights or bars I4 thereon. The cans entering the boot fall between two flights. As the cans enter the boot I2 they ride between guides I5 and are pulled around and up by the flights I 4 and then the cans ride between the flights I4 and upon the guides I6, the cans beingslightly overbalanced toward the guides I6. As shown in Figure 10, this overbalance is about 1'7 from the vertical. The guides It at the top are turned upwardly and outwardly as at I1 to guide or push the cans off the conveyor flights I 4.

Toward the top of the elevator-divider 4 are two runways I8 and i9 and the curved part I! of the guides I6 would force all cans to runway I8 were not other provision made. Immediately opposite the opening of runway I9 is a shaft 20 having pushers 2I thereon. These pushers rotate with the shaft 25.

The conveyor chains l3 ride over upper sprockets 22 and around lower sprockets 23 which sprockets are on shafts 24 and 25 respectively similar parts mounted in the frame of the elevator-divider 4. This frame is supported on rails 26 of the machine and these rails are in turn supported by frames 21. The conveyor chains it have slack take up sprockets 28-29, the latter being adjustable. A motor 30 furnishes power through speed varying pulleys 3i and belt 32 driving pulley 33 fast on shaft 34 which in turn drives slip pulley 35 and pulley 36 fast to shaft 20 through means of belt 31. Shaft 24 is driven from sprocket 38 on shaft 25 by chain 39 and sprocket 45 on shaft 24. Belt 32 on speed varying pulley 34 may be tightened or loosened by pulley 44 on arm 42 fast to hand lever 43 which may be fixed in position on bracket 44. The sections of pulley 3I are urged together by spring means. Handwheel 45 on shaft 34 may be used to move the chains i3 small distances.

The flights I4 are so placed upon the conveyor chains I3 and the ratio of the sprockets is such that the pusher shaft 20 on which the pushers 21 are fixed rotate them once, or one revolution, with the passage of every other flight of the chains I3 so that in the machine shown every other can in the elevator-divider 4 will be discharged on shelf i9 and the remaining can on the conveyor passes to the top of the guides I6 and is pushed by the inclined portion I? of the guide l5 onto the shelf or runway I8. The pushers 2| at their outwardly extending ends pass through openings 46 in the guides I6.

As best shown in Figure 10, illustrating in detail a portion of the second elevator divider, the action of the conveyor flight is to slide the can up the guide, and the first contact of the pusher is to unbalance the can, to roll it forward, off the flight, and the can tilts forward to the runway, and as it becomes overbalanced outwardly, the continued upward movement of the flight further overbalances it, so that both the flight and the pusher force the can to the runway down which it rolls.

This elevator-divider 4 divides the group of cans received as a single line into two lines, initially superimposed and the elevator-divider 4 has its motor connected with the switching mechanism 8 so that the elevator-divider is operated only when the initial runways I are full of cans, at least as far from the elevator-divider 4 as the pivoted shelf 5. When cans are lacking on this pivoted shelf 5 the elevator-divider conveyor operation is stopped. It will be noted that the drive for the conveyor of the elevator-divider being non-positive because of the slipping driving pulley 35, the conveyor will not crush the cans if by any chance they should be misplaced.

The runways I8 and I9 have side members 41 which are pivoted at one end at 48 and are fastened at the other end with thumbscrews 49 so that the side members 41 could be quickly opened and an unsuitable can removed by the operator without disturbing the other cans in the runway. The runways I8 and I9 fork outwardly at their lower delivery ends as shown in Figure 9, so that they enter the second elevator-divider 50 shown best in Figures 4 and 8 substantially abreast by means of guides 5l--52 and 53-54.

This second elevator-divider 50, mounted on rails 26, has in it chains 55 riding on upper and lower sprockets 56 and 5! respectively, these sprockets being on shafts 58 and 59 respectively and shaft 58 is driven by sprocket 50 fast thereon and chain 6| from sprocket 62 on shaft 24 of the first elevator-divider 4. The chains 55 have on them flights 63.

Guides 5I52 and 53-54 drop the cans between the flights 63 in the lower part or boot of the elevator-divider 50, in two rows, each of which is guided in its entrance by guides 64 and 65 and between which the cans pass on their entrance to the flights. As the cans pass around the bottom of the elevator-divider 50, in two rows, they are lifted by flights 63 into two sets of guides, 66 and 61.

The flights ,63 on the chains 55 are slightly over twice the height of the cans in length so that they carry the two rows of cans abreast in their movements. This is best shown in Figure 8.

The chains 55 likewise have slack take-up sprockets 68 and 69, the latter being adjustable.

Adjacent elevator-divider 50, and supported thereon at their upper ends aretwo horizontally spaced groups of three shelves or inclined runways I0, II and 12. These are inclined downwardly away from the elevator-divider 50. Elevator-divider 50 has the two sets of guides 56 and 61 against which the cans ride in overbalanced position when carried upwardly by the flights 63, see Figure 10. Toward the top the guides are directed outwardly as at I3, so that when 'a can reaches the top of the guides it is pushed from the flights 63 to the top runway I0. The guides 66 and El curved at their .tops

I3, act upon the cans to overbalance them outers 82, 83, 84 and 85 thereon. Guides 66 and 9'! have openings 86 therein for the passage of the extending ends 8! of the pushers therethrough. Again the spacing of the flights 63 on chains 55 and the relation of the size of the. sprockets is such that every third can in each vertical set of runways is moved by a pusher 84 or 85, to one of the runways 12 and two adjacent cans, above those discharged on runways I2 are discharged to runways 'II and two cans, on the flights 63 riding above the four previously discharged reach the upper part of the guides 69 and 91 and are pushed from the guides by the sloping portion I3 onto the two runways I0. By this action six cans, two abreast and three deep are rolled from the elevator-divider 50 with every complete rotation of the shafts I4 and 15.

.The runways I0, II and I2, each numeral referring to two runways abreast are fixed at their lower ends to uprights 88 on rails 20 and deliver the rolling cans from the magazine formed by these runways to the loading space indicated generally at 89. The length of these runways, of the magazine section, is such as to hold substantially two charges for the loading space and the upper end of one runway I2 has a pivoted bottom section 90 which operates a Mercoid switch 91 to shut off both elevator-dividers 4 and 50 when the magazine is full. The bottom 90 of the runway is counterbalanced by counterweight 92 so that the switch may be made to operate when precisely the right weight is upon the lower runway I2 and the machine thus far described operates continuously to fill the magazine when cans are on the initial runway I and it stops operating when the magazine is full.

I The loading space 09 is made up of three tilt;-

ing shelves 93, 94, and a cover96. These shelves are pivoted on rods 97 fast in the uprights 98 on rails 29 of the machine. The movable ends of these shelves and the cover are pivoted to bars 99 on each side of the machine. When the shelves are up the cans roll from the magaine section on to them and they are stopped. by the members I00 projecting downwardly from the cover 96 and the bottoms of the two upper shelves. When the shelves are lowered they are horizontal and the ushers IBI may pass over them to slide the load of cans from them. The two upper shelves and cover 96 then form stops for other cans in the magazine section. These pushers IOI are mounted on vertical shaft I92 projecting up from the slide I03 reciprocating on rails I04 mounted on the longitudinal rails 26. The slide I03 is moved on its rails I04 by means of cam arm I05 having a thrust pin I00 therein sliding in groove I01 at the rear of the slide I03.

One of the bars 99 has a spring I08 attached to the lower shelf pivot at one end and to the top of the adjacent upright 88 at the other end which tends to pull the shelves to an inclined position in can rolling register with the runways I0, II and I2.

Transversely slidable bar I09 which slides in brackets H0 mounted on rails 26 rests at its rear end under plate III attached to link II2 which is attached to the pivot on the rear bar 99 where the lower shelf 93 is pivoted. When this bar.I09 is in the position shown in Figures 5, l1 and l4,-v the shelves are rigidly held in their inclined .position. Bar I09 has thereon a downwardly pro-v jecting pin H3 to pull it backward by means of. spring [I4 mounted on back rail 26 at its other end which tends to pull the bar I09 backward into supporting engagement of plate III. The shelves, when loaded, through plate III, bear down on the bar I09 with sufficient force to prevent the withdrawal of the bar I09 by means of the projecting peg H5 except during a portion of the revolution of the shelf operating cam IIB. During a portion of the revolution of this cam the shelves are raised a very slight amount, from engagement of plate III with bar I09, so that the bar is free to be moved lengthwise against the pull of the light spring II by forward pressure on the peg I I5 which is exerted by latch II'I pivoted on transverse horizontal platform sup porting members H8 supported by forward rail 26. When the latch III holds the bar I09 forward, the bar no longer sustains the shelves in an inclined position.

On supporting bracket I I9 extending across the rails 26 is mounted a motor I20 which, through belt I2I'drives pulley I22 which in turn drives screw I23. This screw I23 rotates gear I24 in gear casing I25 mounted on brackets I26 on rear rail 26. This gear casing also supports shaft I2'I keyed to gear I24. To this shaft I21 are keyed shelf operating cam I I8 and plunger cam I28.

- A vertical shaft I29 is also mounted in gear casing I25.

lever I30 is free to rotate at its fixed end. The cam lever I30 is held on the shaft I29 by means of pinned collar I3I. A strong extension spring I32 is mounted on the motor supporting bracket I I9 and on the cam arm at the other end. This spring tends with considerable force to pull the cam arm I05 toward the machine and it pulls with adequate force to force the plungers through the shelves to eject the cans therefrom and load them in cases. The cam arm I05 has follower To the top of this shaft I29 cam arm I05 is'fast and on the bottom of this shaft cam" I33 thereon, through which the arm I is extended by the large portion of cam I23, and is allowed to eject the cans, by spring I32, by the smaller portion of the cam. This can ejecting action of the plunger is restrained by the inclination of the shelves. The lower shelf has a stop I34 which extends in the path of the lower plunger member when the shelves are inclined. When the shelves are horizontal this stop is out of the way of the plunger member and allows the sweeping motion of the plunger to push the cans into the cartons.

The link H2 is supported at its lower end by bell-crank I35 pivoted t the bracket I36 mounted on rear rail 26. This bell-crank I35 is moved in a vertical plane by means of connecting rod I31 jointed at I33 and adjustable in the bell-crank I35 in slot I39. This connecting rod I31 is mounted at its other end on cam lever I30 having a horizontal joint I40 and a vertical joint MI. The connecting rod may also be adjusted in length by means of threads I42 and nuts I43 at each end. The cam lever I30 has thereon a follower I44 which contacts the large portion of the shelf cam H6 at each revolution of that cam.

The cam I I6 has its portions so sized and timed that'the shelves may be lowered because of the small portion of the cam passing the follower I44, as often as a carton is presented for filling, and it will then be raised by the large portion of the cam, and held up by that portion long enough for the refilling of the shelves and the insertion of another carton. The spring I68 serves to relieve the cam of some of the weight of the shelves and cans, and to soften the movements of the shelves. In this normal operation, the safety feature of bar I09 is not used. If a carton is not presented as the small portion of cam I16 passes the follower I44, bar I69 prevents the lowering of the shelves.

Theloading space 89 has at its front side and mounted on the uprights 88 and 98 a case or carton horn or funnel I45. Immediately forward of this horn or funnel is a carton loading platform I46. top open is adapted to be slid over the horn so that the cans may be forced by the plunger IOI through the horn and into the carton. The flaps of the carton extend outwardly around the horn. The'lowermost flap is directed downwardly between upper iiap guides I41 and lower flap guides I48 "on the members I I3. The operator, in inserting the carton on the horn, allows the lower flap to go between these two sets of guides. This lower flap in its downward path trips lever I49 by pulling it outwardly. The lever is pivoted at I53 where the latch H1 is also pivoted. The lower ends of the latch H1 and lever I49 are separated by a spring I5I on a pin I52 passing through the lower ends of both lever and latch and held therein by cotter pins. In this position the tendency of lever I49 is to pull the upper end of the latch outwardly and to pull the bar I09 outwardly but since the weight of the shelves may hold the bar I69 down through friction of the plate III on the bar I09 this withdrawal of the bar will not take place until the large portion of the shelf operatingcam II6 comes opposite the follower I44 to lift the weight of the shelves from the bar I50. In the normal operation above described, a carton would be presented with each passing of the large portion of the cam II6, so the bar I09 would be withdrawn before plate II I rested on the bar I05, so the bar I09 and its operating parts, serves to permit the functioning A carton with the four flaps of its of cam II6 only when a carton is present. As soonas the shelves are lowered to horizontal position, the plunger I0! has its stop I34 withdrawn and then the small portion of the plunger cam I28 comes into contact with its follower I33 and the spring I32 of the plunger forces the plunger in across the shelves and forces the cans into the carton. The larger portion of the plunger cam I28 then immediately retractsthe plunger cam, and cam I I5 raises the shelves. The filled carton slides from theplatform I46 because of the platform being unbalanced and the lower flap is removed from engagement with the lever I49 and bar I09 is pulled back into shelf supporting position by its spring H4 and the shelves are ready to receive another load. Cams IIS and I28 are so positioned that as soon as the small portion of cam I I6 allows the shelves to lower the small portion of cam I28 allows the plunger to operate.

The supporting brackets I53 of-platform I46 are pivoted in an unbalanced position on the projecting supporting members H8 at I54. This platform I46 is held in its horizontal position by the two springs I55 fast at one end to a rod passing through the lower guides I48 and to studs I56 projecting inwardly from the brackets I53. These springs I55 have sufficient tension to maintain the platform I46 horizontal under the weight of the carton while it is empty but the weight of the filled carton and the thrust of the plungers overbalance it, causing it to fall outwardly against the tension of the springs I55, and to release its filled carton.

Pivoted to the outer ends of the platform brackets I53 are flap holder brackets I51. These brackets are pivoted on a rod I58 passing through the platform brackets I53. Brackets I 51 are joined by angle I59 to which is attached carton holder I60. This holder I60 is held in vertical position against the bottom of a carton which has been inserted over the horn as shown in dotted lines in Figure 16, by spring I6I wh'ich'is fast to the same rod in the lower flap guides I48 as springs I55 and its other end is attached to rod I62 passing through the brackets I51. This spring I6I has a roller I63 over which to ride and which is mounted in the brackets I53 on red I64 which also serves as a stop for bracket I53 on supports II8 against the pull of springs I55. The spring must ride over this roller when the carton bottom holder I60 is extended downwardly substantially horizontally against the tension of the spring I6I.

When a carton is inserted on the horn I45 it is essential to hold the carton holder I60 downwardly, extended out of the way. so that the carton may be placed over the horn. It is held in this downward position by pawls I65 which fit against the edge I66 of brackets I51 when the holder I60 is swung downwardly under the weight of a filled carton. Springs I61 are attached to trip levers I68 integral with pawls I65, at one endj and to rod I64 at the other end and tend to pull the pawls down into engagement with the edges of brackets I51. These pawls are set or cocked by the falling of the holder I60 under the force of the filled carton and by the stronger springs I55 pulling the platform I46 up before spring I6'I returns the holder I60, and really before the carton clears the holder. After they are so set the platform I46 returns to horizontal position under the force of its springs I55. When the next carton is inserted over the horn with the lower flap going between the guides I41 and I48 the levers I68 are tripped releasing the pawls I65 and the holder I68 springs to position against the bottom of the carton. It often happens that the cartons when they are filled have the bottom flaps unglued or loose and this holder I68 holds them in closed position while the load of cans is inserted in the carton.

Motor 39 and its switdhes 8 and 9| and motor I28 have leads to a common switch box I89. Immediately upon beginning the operation of the machine motor I28 is started. The cams begin to rotate but they become effective only upon the insertion of the carton over the horn when the lower flap trips levers I68 and lever I 49, first throwing the carton bottom holder I68 into position and second allowing for the operation of the shelf operating cam I Hi to lift the shelves so that bar I89 may be withdrawn and so that the filled shelves may be lowered, and upon the withdrawal of the large section of the plunger cam to allow the plunger to operate to eject the load of cans. The plunger cam I28 and the shelf operating cam I I6 are positioned and proportioned to allow time for the loading space shelves to be refilled from the magazine and for an operator of reasonable skill'and activity toinsert a carton, to have it filled and discharged with each rotation of those cams;

It will be apparent that the actions of the loading space shelves and of the plungers when moving with cans are spring actuated and resilient. They do not work with positive force. They will not therefore injure the cans. The plunger is only moved positively under the action of its cam when it is withdrawn over empty shelves, and when there would be no chance of crushing a can.

The filled carton may be discharged to a roller conveyor I18 by the carton bottom holder I 88, or it may be removed by hand.

As shown in Figures 6 and 8, sprockets 68 and 62 and chain SI are enclosed in a housing I1I, fast to a panel I12 passing between elevatordividers 4 and 58.

At times it is desirable to operate the machine to fill a carton with one layer of cans, and the machine as shown may be readily adapted to that purpose. Elevator-divider 4 would then have its pushers 2I removed from their shaft 28. As shown in Figures 1 and 6, these pushers are mounted on the shaft by means of a split collar,

with bolts I13 to hold them together. When the U pushers are removed, all cans will be removed from elevator divider 4 by the curved top of guides I8, and pass to the upper runway I8.

Figure 19 shows an alternate form of drive for elevator-divider 58, which may be installed originally if desired. In this drive, a panel I14 connects elevator-dividers 4 and 58, and shaft 24 is elongated, as shown at I15, and has on it two sprockets I16 and I11. Likewise shaft 58 is extended, with a section I18, on which are mounted two clutch sections I19 and I88, to freely rotate thereon. These sections both have sprockets integral therewith, driven by chains I8! and I 82 from sprockets I18 and I11. Collars I83 and I84, and I85 and I88 maintain the longitudinal positions of clutch members I88 and I19 on the shaft I18. Shaft I18 has splined thereon clutch I81, which has pins I88 therein projecting on each side, these pins being adapted to be placed in holes I89 in either clutch member I19 or I88.

When elevator-divider 4 is feeding to both runways,- I8 and I9, the clutch I81 is set to operate clutch member I19. When only runway I8 is fed, clutch I81 is set to operate clutch member I88; this doubles the speed of elevator divider 58,

but, of course, the delivery capacity of the machine is cut in half, because only single layers of cans are delivered to the loading space 89. A housing I98 covers the drive mechanism just described and clutch I81 is held in its longitudinal position on shaft section I18 by set screw I9I, to which access may be had through opening I92 in housing I98.

Many modifications and changes of proportion and design may be made in the illustrative form' of the structure described and shown in the drawings without departing from the invention' What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: i

1. A case loading machine comprising means including superimposed shelves movable from horizontal to inclined position to hold a full load of cans for a case forming a loading space, means including superimposed inclined ways to one side of said loading space and from which the cans roll on said inclined ways to the shelves of the loading space, forming a magazine holding a full load of cans for said space, means to support said shelves in inclined position to receive cans from the magazine, slidable means, interlocking with said supporting means to retain them in supporting position, means to eject the full load of cans from said loading space when the loading space shelves are horizontal, constantly operating means periodically releasing said slidable means,

means actuated by a case placed'to receive a load of cans from said loading space to release said supporting means during a release period ofsaid slidable means.

2'. A case loading machine comprising means including superimposed shelves movable from horizontal to inclined position to hold a full load of cans for a base forming a loading space, means including superimposed inclined ways toone side of said loading space and from which the cans roll on said inclined ways to the shelves of the loading space, forming a magazine holding a fullload of cans for said space, means to periodically support said loading space shelves in inclined position, means to eject the full load of cans from the loading space, means constantly urging said ejecting means to ejecting operation and meansperiodically restraining said ejecting means and means restraining the ejecting means until said 7 load of cans for said space, means to periodically support said loading space shelves in inclined position, means to eject the full load of cans from the loading space, means constantly urging said ejecting means to ejecting operation and means periodically restraining the ejecting means, and means preventing said operation until said. loading space shelves are horizontal, means holdingsaid loading space shelves in inclined position and means actuated by a case placed to receive a load of cans from said loading space to releas said holding means.

I 4. A case loading machine comprising means including superimposed shelves movable from horizontal to inclined position to hold a full-load of cans for a case forming a loading space,- means including superimposed inclined ways to one side of said loading space and from which the cans roll 'on said inclined ways to the shelves of the loading space, forming a magazine holding a full load of cans for said space, means to periodically support said loading space shelves in inclined position, means to eject the full load of cans from the loading space, when the loading space shelves are horizontal, additional means independent of said periodically supporting means to support said loading space shelves in inclined position, and means actuated by a case placed to receive a load of cans from said loading space to release said additional means.

5. A case loading machine comprising means including superimposed shelves movable from horizontal to inclined position to hold a full load of cans for a case forming a loading space, means to feed a load of cans to the shelves of said space when said shelves are inclined, means to support said shelves in inclined position, means to eject the full load of cans from said loading space when the loading space shelves are horizontal, means retaining said supporting means in support position, means for periodically releasing said retaining means, means actuated by a case placed to receive a load of cans from said loading space to release said supporting means during a release period of said retaining means.

6. A case loading machine comprising means including superimposed shelves movable from horizontal to inclined position to hold a full load of cans for a case forming a loading space, means to feed a load of cans to the shelves of said space when said shelves are inclined, means to periodically support said loading space shelves in inclined position, means to eject the full load of cans from the loading space, means constantly urgingsaid ejecting means to ejecting operation and means periodically restraining said ejecting means, and additional means restraining said ejecting means until said loading space shelves are horizontal.

7. A case loading machine comprising means including superimposed shelves movable from horizontal to inclined position to hold a full load of cans for a case forming a loading space, means to feed a load of cans to the shelves of said space when said shelves are inclined, means to support said shelves in inclined position, means for removing said supporting means, means to eject the full load of cans from the loading space when the said shelves are horizontal and constantly operating yielding means to return said shelves to inclined position said last named means being efiective upon the ejection of the load of cans from said loading space.

8'. A case filling machine comprising a reciprocating plunger, means for successively presenting a load of cans in the path of the plunger, a horn around the path of the plunger to receive a case thereon, an unbalanced shelf back of the horn to hold the case while on the horn, means to hold said shelf in empty case-holding position while the case is on the horn, said shelf being unbalanced upon the receipt in the case of a load of cans and by the plunger thrust to drop the case backward, off the horn, away from the machine.

9. A case filling machine comprising a reciprocating plunger, means for successively presenting a load of cans in the path of the plunger, a horn around the path of the plunger to receive a case thereon, an unbalanced shelf back of the horn to hold the case while on the horn, spring means to hold the shelf in empty case-holding position, spring held case bottom holding means pivoted on said shelf, said case bottom holding means holding the case yieldingly on the horn to receive a load of cans upon the thrust of the plunger, said shelf being unbalanced backward by the incoming cans and plunger thrust, and said bottom holding means easing the fall of the filled case from the tilted shelf. 9

10. A case filling machine comprising a reciprocating plunger, means for successively presenting a load of cans in the path of the plunger, a horn around the path of the plunger toreceive a case thereon, a tilting resiliently held shelf back of the horn to hold the case while on the horn, a spring held case bottom holder on the shelf to retain the case upon the horn during a thrust of the plunger, and means to latch said holder in disengaged position prior to the insertion of a case upon the horn and means to re lease said latching means whereby thecase bottom holder springs to case holding position to retain a case on the horn for the case to receive a load of cans upon the thrust of the plunger, the tilting shelf being tilted backward by the incoming cans and plunger thrust, the case bottom holder yielding and easing the fall of. the filled case from the tilted shelf.

11. A case filling machine comprising a reciprocating plunger, means for successively presenting a load of cans in the path of the plunger, a horn around the path ofv the plunger to receive a case thereon, a tilting resiliently held shelf back of the horn to hold the case while on the horn, a spring held case bottom holder on the shelf to retain the case upon the horn during a thrust of the plunger, and means to latch said holder in disengaged position prior to the insertion of a case upon the horn and means to release said latching means whereby the case bottom holder springs to case holding position to retain a case on the horn for the case to receive a load of cans upon the thrust of the plunger, the tilting shelf being tilted backward. by the incoming cans and plunger thrust, the case bottom holder yielding and easing the fall of the filled case from the tilted shelf, the yielding of the case bottom holder under the weight of the case cocking said latching means to hold the holder in disengaged position for the next case.

12. A case filling machine comprising a reciprocating plunger, a means for successively presenting a load of cans in the path of the plunger, a horn around the path of the plunger to receive a case thereon, a tilting resiliently held shelf back of the horn to hold the case while on the horn, a spring held case bottom holder on the shelf to retain the case upon the horn during a thrust of the plunger, and means to latch said holder in disengaged position prior to the insertion of a case upon the horn and means to release said latching means tripped by the insertion of a case upon said horn, whereby the case bottom holder springs to case holding position.

13. A case loading machine comprising means including superimposed shelves movable from horizontal to inclined position to hold a full load of cans for a case forming a loading space, means including superimposed inclined ways to one side of said loading space and from which the cans roll on said inclined ways to the shelves of the loading space, forming a magazine holding a full load of cans for said space, constantly operating yielding means to move said shelves when empty to inclined position, means to support said shelves in inclined position to receive cans from the magazine, means for retaining the supporting means in supporting position, means to eject the full load of cans from said loading space when the loading space shelves are horizontal, constantly operating means periodically releasing said retaining means, and means actuated by a case placed to receive a load of cans from "said loading space to release said supporting means during a release period of said retaining means.

14. A case loading machine comprising means including superimposed shelves movable from horizontal to inclined position to hold a full load of cans for a case forming a loading space, means including superimposed inclined ways to one side of said loading space and from which the cans roll on said inclined ways to the shelves of the loading space, forming a magazine holding a full load of cans for said space, constantly operating yielding means to move said shelves when empty to inclined position, means to periodically support said loading space shelves in in- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 777,171 Abraham Dec. 13, 1904 1,802,546 Albertoli Apr. 28, 1931 1,815,029 Albertoli July 21, 1931 1,969,830 Wild l Aug. 14, 1934 1,976,128 Hurst Oct. 9, 1934 2,027,946 Wild Jan. 14, 1936 2,043,411 Kimball June 9, 1936 

